>>28704986 (OP)
>Why are they all crooks?
Just never do business with ANY mechanic that wants to use "book hours" for anything. The times I've lived the wrenchlet life I've always got quotes for the job - mechanic checks my car out, charges me nothing for that service, then tells me something like "it'll be $400". I show up a couple days later, hand over $400 and get my car back (taxes? lol). Hell, on more expensive work, show up willing to pay cash and some of those mechanics will reduce the price even more.
When they hit you with the $149 '''diagnosis fee''', then hit you with the "Welllll just let me see" when you ask them a price, knowing that they're cracking open the '''book''' to see how many hours it tells them they should charge, you know you're about to get hosed.
>but you might end up having work done by a shoddy mechanic this way!
Use discernment and that tool between your ears. I don't judge a mechanic shop by how nice and shiny it is, I judge it by the workers and cars that they're currently working on.
